“Take her and go!” Ronin shouted, shoving Mireille toward Layla. “I’ll deal with the Greyhorn.”
Layla placed Bonecleaver and the sword on the ground, then took Mireille from him with a pleading look. “Ronin?—”
“There’s no fucking time!” he roared, snatching up the axe and laying the sword atop Mireille’s body in Layla’s arms. “Go! I’ll meet you out front. See if you can wake her up. And figure out how to get that fucking ward down.”
Layla glanced over her shoulder, eyes widening.
A colossal bull rhinoceros huffed less than twenty feet away, head bowed with its wickedly sharp horn jutting forward as its hoof scratched the stone floor. Readying for a charge.
Ronin shoved Layla behind him. “Fuckinggo!” He didn’t understand why she was so hesitant to leave him.
With a final, shuddering breath over Ronin’s shoulder, Layla obeyed, scurrying up the hallway and out the hidden door into the parlor.
The sound of slithering scales echoed from the crypt. As if Nyctima were on the move, in search of her next victim. Ronin snickered softly at the thought that Otto had been the final sacrifice after all.
He flipped Bonecleaver in his hands, then turned his attention to Kosera. “Your boss is dead. We don’t need to do this. We should get out of here before that snake makes a meal of us all.”
The rhinoceros snorted, then said in a deep, craggy voice, “I’ve been waiting to take you down foryears, Butcher. Not missing my chance now.”
Kosera barreled down the hallway, massive hooves thundering, and it was all Ronin could do to pivot out of the charge and flatten himself against the wall. Kosera blasted past him, skidding to a stop and turning back around.
Really wish you could come out right now, buddy, he begged his wolf.
Who took one look at the massive bull readying for another charge and said,No, thanks.
You DO realize that if I die, you die too?
You got this, his wolf said flatly.I believe in you.
Kosera exploded down the narrow corridor again, but this time when Ronin tried to swivel away, Kosera swerved, smashing Ronin against the stone. His wrist smacked the wall and he dropped the axe, then pounded his fists against Kosera’s thick, rough skin. It was like trying to punch through a boulder.
Kosera dug his hooves against the floor, crushing Ronin with his heavy body. Ronin attempted to suck in a breath and something within him snapped. Jolts of electric pain seized his lungs as at least two ribs broke beneath Kosera’s incredible force.
The rhinoceros released him, and Ronin dropped to the floor, chest heaving. He swiped a wrist across his nose and blood smeared the back of his hand.
He groaned, trying to push to his hands and knees, but couldn’t manage it. He turned his head to the side, the stonefloor cool against his cheek, and saw Kosera making a third charge.
He barely rolled away in time to avoid getting his head squished. His left arm wasn’t so lucky. Kosera trampled it, the bone splintering with an audible crack.
Ronin roared, terrible, blinding pain lancing through him. He curled over his injured arm, dragging it across the floor as he crawled toward his fallen axe.
This wasnothow he was going to go out. Fucking trampled to death by a rhinoceros holding a grudge. And not without making sure that Mireille was safe.
The thought of her strengthened him. They would make it out of this.
Together.
Curling shaking fingers around Bonecleaver’s wooden handle, he used every ounce of strength left in his legs to push himself to standing, back braced against the wall. His ribs and arm screamed in protest.
“Giveup, Butcher,” Kosera grumbled from the other end of the hallway. “Or I’ll crush you into bloody pulp and bone ash.”
Ronin held out the axe with his right arm, his left limp at his side, blooding staining his teeth. He barked out a maniacal laugh. “Come and get me, Greyhorn.”
Kosera charged once more.
Ronin feinted left, as if trying to plaster himself against the wall. But when Kosera angled left, Ronin pivoted right.
And slammed Bonecleaver into the beast’s neck.
